Diving helmet with air regulating means



March 1967 H. D. WILSON DIVING HELMET WITH AIR REGULAT ING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1963 Fig.

1N VEN TOR.

March 14, 1967 H. D. WILSON 3,308,814

DIVING HELMET WITH AIR REGULATING MEANS Filed Oct. 50, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Hugh 0. Wilson INVENTOR.

Ammq:

March 14, 1967 H w so 3,308,814

DIVING HELMET WITH AIR REGULATING MEANS Filed Oct. 30, 1963 5 Sheets-5heet 3 Hugh 0. Wilson INVENTOK WWW 29m United States Patent 3,308,814 DIVING HELMET WITH AIR REGULATING MEANS Hugh D. Wilson, Goleta, Calif., assignor to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 30, 1963. Ser. No. 320,024 7 Claims. (Cl. 128142) The instant invention is broadly concerned with helmeted deep-sea diving outfits, and is more specifically directed to new and useful improvements in the breathing apparatus associated with such outfits.

It has long been recognized that helium-oxygen mixtures present certain advantages over various nitrogenoxygen mixtures, air being the most common of such mixtures, in that oxygen in high concentration and pressure becomes toxic and nitrogen under high pressure produces a narcotic effect. However, the economic use of helium-oxygen mixtures has heretofore required the use of a recirculating device for absorbing accumulated carbon dioxide. This recirculating device is in the form of a large canister connected to the back of the helmet and containing a chemical absorbent, generally a caustic soda compound, along with means for drawing the carbon-dioxide laden atmosphere from the helmet and forcing it through the absorbent. The use of such a recirculating device, while reducing consumption of the helium to an acceptable level, gives rise to many significant sources of danger in addition to approximately doubling the weight of the standard helmet and breast plate thus greatly decreasing the mobility of the diver. For example, the effectiveness of the absorbent is limited thus requiring frequent replacement. Further, the caustic nature of the absorbent gives rise to the possibility of severe burns resulting if it comes in contact with the skin, thus requiring extreme care in its handling. In addition, there is a danger that damage to the canister will result in a leaking out of the absorbent which, in addition to giving rise to an extremely dangerous situation insofar as the divers breathing atmosphere is concerned, also gives rise to the possibility of extensive damage to the diving suit and diver due to the nature of the absorbent.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a novel breathing apparatus, incorporated into a substantially conventional diving helmet, which allows for an economically feasible use of helium-oxygen mixtures without the necessity of using the aforementioned recirculating canister along with the carbondioxide absorbent.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to incorporate a novel breathing apparatus to a diving helmet for use in conjunction with the conventionally provided breathing apparatus thus, in addition to the economies effected, also providing a safety factor in that either the conventional breathing means can be used or the new breathing apparatus used.

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a breathing apparatus which eliminates the voice distorting in-rush or roar of the gas.

Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to provide breathing apparatus which will allow the diver to retain access to his air supply even were the helmet to be broken or punctured in any manner.

In achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that a substantially conventional helmet be provided which, in addition to the conventional air supply means, includes a separate breathing apparatus consisting of a mouthpiece fixed to the forward portion of the helmet beneath the face place and projecting inwardly for easy reception within the mouth of the diver, and demand type regulator means, either mounted within the helmet 3,308,814 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 or immediately exterior thereof, communicated both with the mouthpiece and with the main air pressure input hose. Such an arrangement affords the diver the choice of breathing in the conventional manner away from the mouthpiece or on the mouthpiece thereby utilizing the demand type regulator means so as to effect a substantial saving in the gas supply as compared to the gas which would normally be expended through the conventional atmosphere producing means within the helmet. It will be appreciated that the diver will be able to communicate through the conventional telephone system by merely removing his mouth from the mouthpiece. Likewise, by the use of the additional breathing apparatus, the diver, while in descent, can inflate his suit in the conventional manner and does not have to wait for his breathing to offset the outside water pressure.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, wit-h portions broken away for purposes of illustration, of the instant invention which consists basically of a dual breathing system;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, however, illustrating a slightly modified form of the newly incorporated breathing apparatus; and

FIGURE 3 is a similar perspective view illustrating a second modified form of breathing apparatus.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a diving helmet similar in many respects to a conventional diving helmet in that it is mounted upon a conventional breastplate 12 and includes a face plate 1-4, side and top windows 16 and 18, a main air pressure whip or line 20 communicated with the interior of the helmet through a conventional gooseneck 22, and a main air pressure exhaust valve 24. The main air pressure whip 20 is of course provided with a non-return valve 26 and is communicated with the main air pressure inlet hose 28 through a main air pressure control valve 30.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that a second breathing means or apparatus has been incorporated into the above described helmet P10, this apparatus being generally indicated by reference numeral 32. This apparatus 32 consists basically of a mouthpiece 34, a single stage demand-type regulator 36 of any suitable commercially available type, such as for example, U.S. Divers Mistral, an interior air circuit duct 38 communicating the mouthpiece 34 and the single stage demand-type regulator 36, an air circuit interior flutter valve 40 located beyond the mouthpiece 34, an interior air circuit hose 42 extending from the regulator 36 to the exterior of the helmet 10, an air circuit whip or line 44 extending from the exterior end of the air circuit hose 4-2, and an air circuit diverter valve 45 communicating the air circuit whip 44 with the main supply input hose 28 forward of the main air pressure control valve 30.

It will be noted that the helmet 10 includes an elongated outwardly formed recess 48 which snugly receives the air circuit duct 38, a similar recess 50 receiving the regulator 36. In such a manner, that portion of the breathing apparatus 32 within the helmet 10 becomes in effect an integral part of the helmet with the mouthpiece 34 being rigidly fixed thus insuring a constant orientation of the mouthpiece allowing easy and rapid access thereto as needed or desired.

With the helmet 10 outfitted in this manner, the diver will, for the major portion of his dive, rely upon the breathing apparatus 32 by engagement of the mouthpiece 34 Within his mouth. In this manner, through the use of the demand-type regulator 36, great economies in gas use are realized thus making use of the highly desirable helium-oxygen mixture feasible. For example while a helmet diver normally needs between three and four and one-half cubic feet of gas or compressed air per minute at ambient pressure, with the instant invention this can be reduced to approximately one cubic foot per minute in ambient pressure. In addition, it will be appreciated that such a system allows a diver to descend to greater depths on a smaller air compressor.

While not specifically illustrated, if so desired, a second wall can be provided within the helmet so as to completely enclose the recess 48 with the air circuit duct 38 located therein, the mouthpiece 34 and flutter valve 40, in this case, projecting inwardly through the inner wall. It should of course be appreciated that the regulators act as non-return valves so as to eliminate any possibility of squeeze.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that a modified form of the invention has been illustrated therein, the specific modification being in the breathing apparatus 32' While the remainder of the helmet structure is the same as illustrated in FIGURE 1 with like parts being referred to by the same reference numerals.

The breathing apparatus 32' differs from the apparatus 32 of FIGURE 1 by the utilization of, rather than the single stage demand type regulator 36, a combined regulating means 52, of any commercially available type such as for example U.S. Divers Aquamaster which consists of a first stage regulator 54 and a second stage regulator 56.

By the use of the first stage regulator, the second stage regulator can be automatically set to the optimum output of the compressed gas mixture without necessitating control by regulators at the surface. The remainder of the apparatus 32 is the same as described in connection with the apparatus 32 and has been referred to by like reference numerals.

FIGURE 3 contains a further modification of the invention, the specific area of modification also appearing in the breathing apparatus, in this instance indicated by reference numeral 32". The apparatus 32" is similar to the apparatus 32' in that it also uses commercially available regulators, such as for example Sportswaves first and second stage single hose Hydronaut, however, in this instance the first stage regulator 58 is located exteriorly of the helmet 10 while the second stage regulator 60' is located within the helmet 10 thus providing greater room within the helmet as compared to the apparatus 32'.

From the foregoing, it should now be readily appreciated that a novel helmet structure has been defined, this helmet structure including, in addition to the conventional breathing means, a second breathing apparatus utilizing demand type regulators in a manner so as to make use of the helium-oxygen mixture commercially feasible without the necessity of relying upon cumbersome and dangerous canisters as heretofore required. Additionally, it will be recognized that a safety factor is introduced by the provision of two breathing means, the second breathing means, incorporating demand type regulators, substantially simplifying the surface control manifold as compared to that necessary in the conventional outfits.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, is it not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a diving apparatus comprising:

a diving helmet;

a first gas hose communicating with the interior of the diving helmet;

an external source of pressurized gas communicating with the first gas hose to supply the interior of the diving helmet with the gas;

a mouthpiece fixed within the helmet for reception by the mouth of a diver;

a second gas hose communicating the mouthpiece to the external source of pressurized gas;

at least one demand type regulator associated with the second gas hose to reduce the pressure of the gas to the mouthpiece to a level commensurate with ease of diver breathing and which is actuable to supply gas to the mouthpiece only when the diver inhales thereon; and

means for exhausting the gas from the helmet after such gas has been at least partially consumed by the diver.

2. A diving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the demand type regulator is located within the helmet and the second gas hose comprises:

a gas circuit duct communicating the demand type regulator to the mouthpiece; and

a gas circuit hose communicating with the regulator and the external source of pressurized gas.

3. The diving apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein the gas circuit duct extends beyond the mouthpiece and is provided with a flutter valve operable to open when the pressure within the gas circuit duct exceeds the pressure within the helmet.

4. The diving apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the helmet is provided witl an elongated outwardly formed recess, the gas circuit duct being received Within the recess.

5. The diving apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the demand type regulator is single stage.

6. The diving apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the demand type regulator consists of a first stage regulator and a second stage regulator, the second stage regulator being of the demand type.

7. The diving apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein the gas circuit hose extends through the helmet and the first stage regulator is positioned along the gas circuit hose exteriorly of the helmet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,079 10/1928 Murakamj 128l43 2,388,674 11/1945 Browne 128l44 X 2,484,044- 10/1949 Metzger 128-142 2,792,832 5/1957 Galeozzi 128144 2,855,923 10/1958 Kimes et al. 128 142- 2,929,376 3/1960 Kemper 128-142 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

W. E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DIVING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A DIVING HELMET; A FIRST GAS HOSE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE DIVING HELMET; AN EXTERNAL SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED GAS COMMUNICATING WITH THE FIRST GAS HOSE TO SUPPLY THE INTERIOR OF THE DIVING HELMET WITH THE GAS; A MOUTHPIECE FIXED WITHIN THE HELMET FOR RECEPTION BY THE MOUTH OF A DIVER; A SECOND GAS HOSE COMMUNICATING THE MOUTHPIECE TO THE EXTERNAL SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED GAS; AT LEAST ONE DEMAND TYPE REGULATOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECOND GAS HOSE TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE OF THE GAS TO THE MOUTHPIECE TO A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH EASE OF DIVER BREATHING AND WHICH IS ACTUABLE TO SUPPLY GAS TO THE MOUTHPIECE ONLY WHEN THE DIVER INHALES THEREON; AND MEANS FOR EXHAUSTING THE GAS FROM THE HELMET AFTER SUCH GAS HAS BEEN AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONSUMED BY THE DIVER. 